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Britney Spears says she will never return to the music industry

In a new Instagram post, the singer shoots down rumors of a new studio album in the works

Senior Culture Editor

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Britney Spears attends Sony Pictures' "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood" Los Angeles Premiere on July 22, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Britney Spears attends Sony Pictures' "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood" Los Angeles Premiere on July 22, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Amidst rumors that Britney Spears has been working on a new full-length studio album — which would be her first since "Glory," released in 2016 — the singer puts all that to rest via a strongly worded post to Instagram on Wednesday.

Likely inspired to speak out after Page Six ran a report the same day, writing that Charli XCX and Julia Michaels have been "tapped to pen tracks for what Spears’ team hopes will become the Princess of Pop’s first full-length release in nearly a decade," she calls the news "trash."

Next to an image of the painting "Salome with the Head of John the Baptist" by artist Guido Reni, Spears writes:

Just so we’re clear most of the news is trash !!! They keep saying I’m turning to random people to do a new album … I will never return to the music industry !!! When I write, I write for fun or I write for other people !!! For those of you who have read my book, there’s loads that you don’t know about me … I’ve written over 20 songs for other people the past two years !!! I’m a ghostwriter and I honestly enjoy it that way !!! People are also saying MY BOOK WAS RELEASED WITHOUT MY APPROVAL ILLEGALLY and that’s far from the truth … have you read the news these days ??? I’m so LOVED and blessed !!!

Buzz of a new album has been circulating for some time now, with Forbes sourcing an earlier rumor from Page Six back in August 2023 that the singer was working on a writers camp and getting songs from "some big artists." But based on what Spears herself is saying, fans will just have to keep on waiting.  

By Kelly McClure

Kelly McClure is Salon's Senior Culture Editor, where she helps further coverage of TV, film, music, books and culture trends from a unique and thoughtful angle. Her work has also appeared in Vulture, Vanity Fair, Vice and many other outlets that don't start with the letter V. She is the author of one sad book called "Something Is Always Happening Somewhere." Follow her on Bluesky: @WolfieVibes

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